What is a stakeholder analysis?

Are you ready to kick off your next design project but unsure who to involve? Start by understanding who influences its success. A stakeholder analysis helps you spot key decision-makers, align their needs, and create clear paths for collaboration.

This methodology is a strategic approach that helps you map out every person who impacts your project. By understanding their roles and expectations early, you can build stronger partnerships and drive better outcomes.

Read on to learn:

• The benefits of using a stakeholder analysis
• Tips for conducting an effective stakeholder analysis
• Stakeholder matrix templates and examples

3 benefits of a stakeholder analysis

A well-executed stakeholder analysis strengthens your project foundation and strategic planning process in three key ways:

• Improves project outcomes. Understanding influential stakeholders and their priorities helps you address potential conflicts early and keep projects aligned with everyone’s needs.
• Strengthens stakeholder communication. Map stakeholder roles, preferences, priorities, and needs to build effective communication strategies. Clear communication builds trust and reduces the risk of major conflicts.
• Increases efficiency and sustainability. Focus on the stakeholder needs to streamline project approvals and decision-making. When stakeholders see their input valued, they’ll be more likely to support future initiatives—a win-win.

How to conduct a stakeholder analysis

Start every new project with a stakeholder analysis, mapping both internal and external stakeholders This big-picture view helps you secure the resources you need and manage potential risks before they impact your work.

Running this type of analysis paves the way for your project’s success, but where do you begin? Follow this step-by-step guide to create an effective stakeholder map.

Step 1: Identify potential stakeholders

Create a complete list of everyone who may be involved with or impacted by your project. Include both primary stakeholders—those directly involved—and external stakeholders.

Imagine you’re leading a new project to design a mobile app. Your internal stakeholders might include developers, product managers, and other decision-makers. External stakeholders could include users, clients, and partners.

Step 2: Gather stakeholder expectations

Next, gather as much information as possible about each stakeholder’s goals and expectations through targeted research methods. There are several ways to do this, including surveys, interviews, brainstorming meetings, or user personas.

Once you’ve gathered the information, carefully analyze the data to identify the most important priorities and objectives.

Step 3: Categorize and prioritize stakeholders

Plot your stakeholders on a matrix based on their power and interest level. This visualization helps you determine the appropriate way to engage them:

• High-power, high-interest stakeholders need full engagement (e.g., executive sponsors, key decision-makers, CEO’s).
• High-power, low-interest stakeholders must be satisfied (e.g. legal team, compliance).
• High-interest, low-power stakeholders need to stay informed (e.g. design team members).
• Low-power, low-interest stakeholders require minimal engagement or monitoring (e.g. a coordinator managing meeting schedules).

Step 4: Create a stakeholder communication plan

Now it’s time to create a detailed communication plan that matches each stakeholder’s needs and preferences.

Use an onion diagram to visualize relationships and define communication channels. Not every communication will be relevant to every stakeholder; so remember to engage powerful stakeholders, inform key players, and monitor others.

Step 5: Monitor and adjust

Stakeholder analysis isn’t a one-time process. Regularly review and update your understanding as roles and priorities shift as the project progresses.

Pay attention to changing dynamics, including:

• ​​New stakeholders joining the project
• Shifts in decision-making authority
• Evolving project requirements
• Changing levels of interest or involvement

Ongoing monitoring lets you make adjustments as needed to maintain strong alignment as your project evolves

Stakeholder matrix example and template

Put these principles into practice using FigJam’s stakeholder analysis template. Here’s how a typical brand redesign project might map out.

High power, high interest

• Executive team driving the rebrand initiative
• Design leadership responsible for implementation

High power, low interest

• Legal team reviewing for trademark and compliance
• Finance team managing budget impact

High interest, low power

• Marketing team using new brand assets
• Design team contributors

Low power, low interest

• General staff using basic brand elements
• Administrative support team
• Contractors

Jumpstart your stakeholder analysis with FigJam

Want to transform how you collaborate with stakeholders while achieving better project outcomes and higher levels of efficiency? You’re ready to run a stakeholder analysis, and FigJam can help. Here’s how:

• Clarify project goals with Figma’s problem statement template.
• Find stakeholder analysis examples shared by the Figma Community to inspire yours.
• Kick off your strategy with FigJam’s collaborative strategic planning tool.